Active tire controller device

Abstract

A control system and method for enhancing motor vehicle fuel economy. The system and method establishes a vehicle operating in either a city operating condition or highway operating condition. Once a highway operating condition is established, an on-board motor vehicle tire pressure pneumatic controller may be commanded set a relatively higher tire inflation pressure optimizing the tires for minimizing rolling resistance and thereby enhancing fuel economy. In a city operating condition, tire inflation pressure may be returned to nominal values optimizing inflation pressure for vehicle dynamic capabilities for maneuvering, braking, or traction. Distinguishing between the operating conditions may be based on one or more of a number of parameters of the motor vehicle.

1 . A tire pressure control system for a motor vehicle having road-engaging tires and an active tire pressure control system enabling the inflation pressure of the tires to be adjusted while the motor vehicle is in motion, comprising:
 a tire pressure pneumatic controller for adjusting the inflation pressure of at least one of the tires based upon a control signal,   a tire pressure electronic controller for generating the control signal,   at least one input applied to the electronic controller based on an operating parameter of the vehicle applied to the electronic controller, and   the electronic controller having logic means for processing the input and generating the output in a manner setting the tire inflation level to a value optimizing the inflation pressure for reduced rolling resistance when the operating parameter is related to the vehicle being operated in a highway operating condition, and setting the tire inflation level to a reduced value optimizing the inflation pressure for vehicle dynamic capabilities when the operating parameter is related to the vehicle being operated in a city driving condition.   
     
     
         2 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter is related to one or more of the following; a navigation system parameter, a GPS condition parameter, a vehicle dynamics parameter, a fuel level parameter, a vehicle speed parameter, a time of day parameter, a vehicle loading parameter, a time-since-last-stop of vehicle parameter, a cruise control setting parameter, a brake actuation parameter, a steering wheel rate parameter, and a manual operator input. 
     
     
         3 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the navigation system parameter resolves between the driving conditions based on the position of the vehicle on a map and based on the road surface type or posted speed as indicated by the map. 
     
     
         4 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the GPS condition parameter resolves between the driving conditions as indicated by a GPS-derived signal based on changing vehicle position. 
     
     
         5 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle dynamics parameter resolves between the driving conditions based on the current or past dynamic maneuvering of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the fuel-level parameter establishes the city operating condition when the fuel level is low indicating that the vehicle will require a stop. 
     
     
         7 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle speed parameter resolves between the driving conditions based on the vehicle speed being above or below a speed threshold. 
     
     
         8 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the time-of-day parameter resolves among the driving conditions based on the time of day. 
     
     
         9 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle loading parameter establishes the city driving condition when the vehicle is heavily loaded. 
     
     
         10 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the time-since-last-stop parameter establishes the city driving condition when the time of operation of the vehicle indicates an anticipated need to stop the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the cruise control parameter resolves between the driving conditions based on use or non-use of a cruise control system of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the brake actuation parameter establishes the city operating condition when the brakes of the vehicle are actuated. 
     
     
         13 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the steering-wheel-rate parameter establishes the driving condition based upon the rate of change or magnitude of steering wheel angle. 
     
     
         14 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the manual operator input resolves between the city operating condition and driving conditions based on a command by the vehicle operator. 
     
     
         15 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the manual operator input can be overidden by the controller based on one or more other of the parameters. 
     
     
         16 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the operating condition is related to at least two of the operating parameter inputs. 
     
     
         17 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the tire pressure control system enables the inflation pressure of a plurality of the tires to be controlled. 
     
     
         18 . A method of adjusting tire pressure for a motor vehicle of a type having road engaging tires and an active tire pressure control system enabling the inflation pressure of the tires to be adjusted while the motor vehicle is in motion, comprising the steps of:
 processing at least one operating parameter of the vehicle related to past, current or anticipated operating conditions and generating an output inputted to the active tire pressure control system,   setting the tire inflation level to optimizing the inflation pressure for reduced rolling resistance value when the operating parameter is related to the vehicle being operated in a highway operating condition, and setting the tire inflation level to a reduced value optimizing the inflation pressure for vehicle dynamic capabilities when the operating parameter is related to the vehicle being operated in a city driving condition.   
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the operating parameter is related to one or more of the following; a navigation system parameter, a GPS parameter, a vehicle dynamics parameter, a fuel level parameter, a vehicle speed parameter, a time-of-day parameter, a vehicle loading parameter, a time-since-last-stop of vehicle parameter, a cruise control setting parameter, a brake actuation parameter, a steering wheel rate parameter, or a manual operator input. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the navigation system parameter resolves among the conditions based on the position of the vehicle on a map and based on the road surface type or posted speed as indicated by the map. 
     
     
         21 . A method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the GPS condition parameter is related to a GPS derived signal based on changing vehicle position. 
     
     
         22 . A method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the vehicle dynamics parameter resolves among the conditions based on the current or past dynamic maneuvering of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . In a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by a programmed processor for adjusting tire pressure in a motor vehicle of a type having road engaging tires and an active tire pressure control system enabling the inflation pressure of the tires to be adjusted while the motor vehicle is in motion, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
 processing at least one operating parameter of the vehicle related to past, current or anticipated operating conditions and generating an output inputted to the active tire pressure control system,   setting the tire inflation level to optimizing the inflation pressure for reduced rolling resistance value when the operating parameter is related to the vehicle being operated in a highway operating condition, and setting the tire inflation level to a reduced value optimizing the inflation pressure for vehicle dynamic capabilities when the operating parameter is related to the vehicle being operated in a city driving condition.   
     
     
         24 . A tire attribute control system for a motor vehicle having road-engaging tires and an active tire attribute control system enabling attributes of the tires to be adjusted while the motor vehicle is in motion, comprising:
 a tire attribute controller for adjusting of at least one of the tires based upon a control signal,   a tire attribute electronic controller for generating the control signal,   at least one input applied to the electronic controller based on an operating parameter of the vehicle applied to the electronic controller, and   the electronic controller having logic means for processing the input and generating the output in a manner setting a tire attribute level to a value optimizing the tire attribute for one of a plurality of driving conditions.   
     
     
         25 . A tire pressure control system in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the operating parameter is related to one or more of the following; a navigation system parameter, a GPS condition parameter, a vehicle dynamics parameter, a fuel level parameter, a vehicle speed parameter, a time of day parameter, a vehicle loading parameter, a time-since-last-stop of vehicle parameter, a cruise control setting parameter, a brake actuation parameter, a steering wheel rate parameter, and a manual operator input.